Five veteran receivers the Redskins could target after Cody Latimer’s arrest

For all the concern some fans had about Ron Rivera dipping too much into former Carolina Panthers in free agency during the 2020 offseason, he didn’t overdo it.

Sure, Rivera brought in potential special teams player and linebacker Jared Norris, former undrafted tight end Marcus Baugh, and long-time Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis to the squad in free agency. And he traded for Kyle Allen. But the bigger-name players like James Bradberry, Greg Olsen, Gerald McCoy, and Cam Newton have all landed elsewhere (or in Newton’s case, they remain unsigned).

But, I digress. The point is that Rivera has targeted his former players in a smart way. He has added players to add depth, competition, and leadership without spending too much on any of them. And it’s possible that Jarius Wright could fit the bill in at least a couple of those buckets.

Wright, 30, spent the past two seasons with the Panthers and operated as their No. 3 receiver for most of his time there. He played about 80 percent of his snaps in the slot but has the ability to play outside if needed.

In 2019, Wright caught 28 passes for 296 yards despite dealing with the Panthers’ quarterback issues. Wright did have some issues with drops — his mark of eight was sixth-worst in the NFL — but he had three or fewer in each of the previous four seasons. He was more productive with Cam Newton at the helm for most of 2018 and tallied a career-high 43 catches to go along with 447 yards and a touchdown.

Wright could provide competition for Steven Sims and Trey Quinn in the slot while giving the squad some versatile depth. He wouldn’t be a direct replacement for Latimer’s skill set, but he would give the coaching staff some familiarity and would give the team a veteran presence. And if Latimer isn’t retained after his arrest, that’s something that the ‘Skins could certainly use.